Posterior interchangeable tooth and backing for bridgework



.0. s. HIGHKIN. FOSTERIOR INTERCHANGEABLE TOOTH AND BACKING FOR BRIDGEWURK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7 I920.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID S. HIGI-IKIN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Application filed May 7, 1920.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I DAVID S. HIGHKIN, a citizen of the United states, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Posterior Interchangeable Teeth and Backings for Bridgework, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dental bridgework, and one of the primary and important objects is the provision of a backing which may be utilized in connection with various sizes and forms of tooth facings, the facings being removable and replaceable so that should any become injured, excessively worn or defaced, it can be detached and a new facing substituted without altering the structure of the bridge-work in which it is located.

Another and important object is to provide a structure in which the facing is effectively supported against abnormal stresses and pressure, so that it is not liable to be chipped or broken thereby.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a facing constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the backing employed in connection therewith,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the facing and backing in associated relation and prior to the upper or rearwardly extending portion of the facing being boxed,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the completed member,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the facing illustrated in Fig. 1,

V Fig. 6 is a rear elevation ofthe same, 7 Fig. 7 is'a vertical sectional view therethrough,

Fig. 8 is a front elevationof said facing,

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of thesame,

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the backing illustrated in Fig. 2,

Fig. 11 is afront elevation of the same,

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view therethrough,

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the facing and backing associated as illustrated in Fig. 3, r K 1 Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view through the associated elements,

Fig. 15 is a front elevation of the backing with'the flanges formed into the boxing,

Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

Serial No. 379,568.

bridge in which the above mentioned members are utilized,

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a modified form of construction,

Fig. 18 is an edge view of the same,

Fig. 19 is a bottom plan view,

Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional view of the modification with the facing in place thereon.

In the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1-16 inclusive, the backing member or element is preferably of the usual material, gold, and consists of a downwardly tapered relatively thick and rigid body having a rear or lingual wall 21, a side or distal wall 22 and an opposite side or mesial wall 23, forming a socket 24: that is downwardly tapered, as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 12. The upper edges of the walls 21, 22 and 23 are provided with outstanding flanges or wings 25 which as shown, are thinner than the body walls 21, 22 and 23 and are pliable, as hereinafter more fully explained. The front edges of said walls 22 and 23 and the lower edge of the wall 21 are providedwith corresponding flanges or wings 26. The'body is furthermore provided within the socket 24: with an upstanding anchor element in the form of a flange or projection 27 that extends across the socket from the wall 22 to the wall 23.

The tooth or facing element consists of the front portion 28 having the usual buccal surface corresponding to the naturaltooth configuration. It is also provided with an integral rear extension 29, the upper face of which corresponds in form and appearance to the natural tooth configuration. The

portions 28 and 29 are connected by an integral brace portion 30 of downwardly tapered formation and adapted to fit in and fill the socket 241: of the backing. This brace portion 30 is provided with a recessed seatand 2, which represent the facing and backing as supplied to the trade, it will be evident that the facing can be readily placed in position on the backing, with the brace 30 in the socket 24 and the anchoring flange 27 engaged in the recessed seat 31. The

outstanding wings or flanges are then The wings26 are trimmed and bent to posi-,

tion behind the flanges 32 of the facing, be-- ing burnished so as to effectively fit against the same. The two members are thus properly fitted and will appear, as shown in Fig. -l. A. plurality of these parts may then be formed into a bridge, as illustrated in F ig, 16, the different members being secured together by suitable solder, as illustrated at 3 1:, the spaces between the adjacent backings being filled and forming triangular reinforcements 85. The whole are soldered to the usual abutments, as 36, and mounted in position in any well known manner.

. As a modified form of construction, the improvements may be utilized in connection 7 with a well known form of backing, as illustrated in Figs. -17-20. This ba'ckin consists of arelatively thick fixed body 3! pro vided with a stud or pin 38 having a brace 39, the two latter fitting in a socket 40 of a facing 41, as illustrated in Fig. 20. The body 37 is provided with thin outstanding wings or flanges 42 that may be bent about the rear and side portions of the facing 41, as shown in Fig. 20, thus boxing the rearwardly extending .portion of the facing and acting in thesame manner as the flanges or wings 25 of the first described backing.

There are a number of advantages for this present structure. In the first place it will be obvious that it eliminates the necessity of an individual backing for each facing. In other words, one standard backing may be utilized for facings having front standard brace, as 30, since the wings 25 and 26' of the backing can be bent to position and properly fitted to the facing, irrespective of the form and shape thereof. This greatly reduces not only the expense of manufacture, but the amount of stock that would otherwise have to be carried by dealers and dentists.

Additionally it will be observed that all parts'of the facing are very effectively sup ported and reinforced by the backing, thus insuring the facings against injury and breakage. Moreover the, amount of metal required is relatively small, thus effecting a saving of expense in this respect. Finally it will be evident that in case of excessive wear or injury, any facing can be removed and a new one substituted therefor without the necessity of rebuilding or altering the bridge.

' From the foregoing, it is thought that the be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further descriptlon, and it WIll bB understood that various changes in the slze, shape,

proportion and minor details. of construction, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the ad vantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

i. In dental bridge work, a supporting backing having a socket that opens through its front face and through its outer end, said backing includingboxing walls at its outer end, and a tooth facing having a rearwardly extending projection on its outer portion that is adapted to be inclosed by the boxing walls, said outer portion having its end face exposed tobiting action, and a reinforcing brace between the facing and said extension, said brace fitting in the socket of the backing, said backing having a portion projecting into the socket, and said brace having a socket that receives the projecting portion.

2.:In dental bridge work, a supporting backing having a socketopeningthrough its front face and through its end, said socket having internal supporting shoulders on opposite sides of the same and a removable tooth facing having "a rear extension at its outer end that fits in the portion of the socket and'rests on the shoulders, and a reinforcing brace between the facing and end extension, said brace extending intothe socket between the shoulders, said backing having an up 7 standing element in the socket and said brace having a socket that receives the said element.

3. In dental bridge work, a supporting backing having a socket opening through its front face and through one end, and a removable tooth facing having an integral upper rear extension thatfits in the outer portion of the socket and has its end face exposed, and a reinforcing brace bet-ween the facing and top extension, said brace being located in the socket of the backing and having an upwardly extending recess and said backing having an upstanding flange that projects into the socket and engages in said recess of the facing.

4. As an article of manufacture, a backing for dental bridgework comprising a body having means for inter-engaging with a facing and providedatone end with opposito'pliable flanges having outer free'ends and constituting boxing walls adapted'to be bent about the opposite'side faces of the biting portion of a facing.

5. In dental bridgework, a backing com prising a body having means for receiving a facing and provided with rear and side walls, each having a bendable outstanding flange that is adapted to be bent alongside .the corresponding side 0f a facing, said flanges forming a boxing about the sides and rear of the facing.

6. As an article of manufacture, a backing for dental bridgework comprising a substantially rigid body having means for interengaging with a facing and provided at one end with thin pliable flanges adaptedto lie in substantially the same plane and to be bent therefrom to form boxing walls that inclose the rear and opposite side faces of the facing.

7. In dental bridge-work, a backing comprising a substantially rigid body of relatively thick metal provided with a socket and a projecting anchor element in the socket, said body having thin bendable flanges on different sides of the socket, and a facing having a rearwardly projecting biting portion, and a brace between the facing and biting portion adapted to fit in the socket, said brace having a recess to receive the anchor element and said flanges being bendable about the facings.

8. In dental bridgework, a facing element having a rearwardly extending biting portion at its outer end and also having oppositely extending marginal flanges that eX- tend across said biting portion, and a backing that interfits with the facing, said backing having oppositely extending pliable wings at its outer end that are adapted to be bent snugly alongside opposite sides of the biting portion of the facing behind the said flanges thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my si nature.

DAVID S. HIG KIN. 

